HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD Awards CeremonyLIFESAVING AWARD Sergeant Raul Aguilar On April 25, 2015, Sergeant Raul Aguilar and another officer responded to a medical aid call at a San Rafael residence with a 77 -year old male subject in possible cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, they contacted the subject's wife who reported witnessing her husband having a heart attack. The officers located the victim on the floor of the bedroom adjacent to the bed. The victim was not breathing and was non-responsive. Sergeant Aguilar assessed the victim and immediately began chest compressions, which he sustained until San Rafael Fire Department Paramedics arrived on scene. The victim regained a pulse and started breathing after continued CPR and multiple shocks from the Artificial External Defibrillator (AED). The victim survived and was discharged from the hospital two days later. Sergeant Aguilar's professional action played a significant role in the man's survival and recovery. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Sergeant Aguilar's performance in this incident and awards this Lifesaving Citation. q.3- so x .2%5 LETTER OF COMMENDATION Officer Jessica Perry On April 25, 2015, Officer Jessica Perry and another officer responded to a medical aid call at a San Rafael residence with a 77 -year old male subject in possible cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, they contacted the subject's wife who reported witnessing her husband having a heart attack. The officers located the victim on the floor of the bedroom adjacent to the bed. The victim was not breathing and was non-responsive. Officer Perry assisted with repositioning the victim and obtaining relevant health history from the wife in support of overall lifesaving efforts. The victim regained a pulse and started breathing after continued CPR and multiple shocks from the Artificial External Defibrillator (AED). The victim survived and was discharged from the hospital two days later. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Perry's performance in this incident and awards this Letter of Commendation. LIFESAVING AWARD Officer Thomas Collins On, June 29, 2015, Officer Thomas Collins responded to a report of an unconscious subject suffering from a possible drug overdose. He discovered a 24 -year old male subject who was unconscious with a pulse, agonal breathing and non-responsive pupils. Officer Collins completed a physical assessment and began CPR. San Rafael Fire Department Paramedics arrive and continued lifesaving efforts. The subject was transported to the hospital and made a full recovery. Officer Collins's timely and professional action allowed paramedics to get the man to the hospital where he was stabilized and made a full recovery. Officer Collins' professional action played a significant role in the man's survival and recovery. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Collins' performance in this incident and awards this Lifesaving Citation. LETTER OF COMMENDATION Sergeant Carl Huber Sergeant Carl Huber was assigned to manage an alcohol compliance grant over a 3 -year period. He served as the primary, attended state and local training, organized in-house training and coordinated alcohol-related enforcement activities throughout the county. Sergeant Huber was instrumental in managing a coalition of community members and participants from other government agencies. He was a lead trainer for the Responsible Beverage Service program and taught numerous Marin County Fair vendors proper alcohol service and monitoring techniques. Sergeant Huber supervised a series of compliance check operations, which targeted vendors who sold alcoholic beverages to minors following the compliance training. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Sergeant Huber for his professional performance and awards this Letter of Commendation. LETTER OF COMMENDATION Sergeant Scott Eberle Sergeant Scott Eberle was assigned to manage an alcohol compliance grant as it transitioned from a community coalition to a partnership between the City of San Rafael and the County of Marin. He rebranded the grant partnership with the acronym "ACT" for the "Alcohol Compliance Team". Sergeant Eberle utilized social media directed at minors, along with other public education strategies, to target under -age drinking in the community. He organized and supervised numerous weekend party patrols and liquor store decoy operations, and frequently used the City's Social Host Ordinance to enforce state and local liquor laws. Sergeant Eberle worked diligently to increase awareness of alcohol-related offenses and reduce the effects of under -age drinking. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Sergeant Eberle for his professional performance and awards this Letter of Commendation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Reverend Jan Heglund Reverend Jan Heglund, affectionately known as "Reverend Jan'; has tirelessly served the San Rafael Police Department as a Police Chaplain since 1997. She has provided support to department and community members alike during countless critical incidents. Reverend Jan has responded on short -notice, regardless of time or place, to offer guidance following accidental deaths, suicides, serious accidents and countless other traumatic situations. She has served as a member of the Department's Peer Support Team and the Chaplain Director at the West Coast Post -trauma Retreat. Reverend Jan has provided friendship, support, counsel, spiritual guidance and insight to anyone in need of assistance and has become part of the "extended family" in the Police Department. Reverend Jan has presided over marriage ceremonies for department employees and offered comforting eulogies at remembrances and funerals of their family members. She has always been on -hand to celebrate promotions, retirements and new additions to the Police Department and routinely acknowledges birthdays and other special occasions with thoughtful cards, gifts or baked goods. Reverend Jan has done the "little things" that make a difficult job a little easier. She has never been "preachy" and knows the difference between being a Pastor and a Police Chaplain. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Reverend Jan's continued service and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Supervisor Rebecca Kuga Youth Services Program Supervisor Rebecca Kuga has coordinated Camp Chance, a five-day summer camp for at -risk youth, for several years. The camp provides a unique opportunity for at -risk and under -served youth from San Rafael and the broader Marin County community to interact with law enforcement personnel in a positive and supportive environment. Supervisor Kuga has organized all aspects of the camp, including fundraising, camper selection, personnel training and recruitment, and on-site supervision. She spends countless hours working on this project because she knows the positive impact it will have on attendees. The program has no direct funding source and relies heavily on community donations and fundraising efforts. In 2015, Supervisor Kuga's fundraising efforts garnered over $35,000, which helped support 94 youth campers, 10 counselors and dozens of law enforcement personnel who provided a variety of interactive presentations and activities. Supervisor Kuga's leadership and commitment to the program has helped develop positive life skills and reduce destructive behaviors for hundreds of at -risk youth in the community. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Supervisor Kuga's continued service and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Sergeant Scott Eberle Sergeant Scott Eberle has been assigned as the supervisor for the Street Crimes Unit (SCU) for the past 3 years. In 2015, the issue of human trafficking and the prostitution of young women became a nationwide issue and a prominent area of focus for law enforcement. Sergeant Eberle took a leadership role and collaborated with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Marin County District Attorney's Office, Child Protective Services, Health and Human Services and several community-based service organizations, including Center for Domestic Peace and Community Violence Solutions. He organized several countywide sting operations at local hotels to arrest prostitution customers and assist women who were victims of human trafficking. Sergeant Eberle coordinated these operations with the FBI Task Force in Marin and Sonoma Counties and the City of San Francisco. Sergeant Eberle trained and mentored several officers in the department and has promoted greater awareness of the issue. His efforts have been instrumental in assisting victims of human trafficking and bringing their abusers to justice. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Sergeant Eberle for his professional performance and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. LETTER OF COMMENDATION Officer Adams On the evening of September 30, 2015, Officer Elisha Adams contacted a female subject who was in the area for the purpose of prostitution. Officer Michael Garrison responded to assist Officer Adams. The woman said she was attempting to make money to get away from her pimp and had multiple injuries consistent with being physically abused. Officer Adams and Officer Garrison believed the woman was a victim of human trafficking and facilitated her release to an advocate from Community Violence Solutions for housing and services. The victim was housed at a local motel and provided food and clothing. She expressed a desire to return home to her family in Arkansas. As a direct result of the officer's contact and intervention, the woman was reunited with her aunt and grandmother and regained lawful employment in the food service industry. On November 4, 2015, the woman called the San Rafael Police Department to thank the involved officers for making her feel safe and said she was forever grateful for everyone involved in potentially saving her life. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Adams for his professional performance and awards this Letter of Commendation. LETTER OF COMMENDATION Officer Garrison On the evening of September 30, 2015, Officer Elisha Adams contacted a female subject who was in the area for the purpose of prostitution. Officer Michael Garrison responded to assist Officer Adams. The woman said she was attempting to make money to get away from her pimp and had multiple injuries consistent with being physically abused. Officer Adams and Officer Garrison believed the woman was a victim of human trafficking and facilitated her release to an advocate from Community Violence Solutions for housing and services. The victim was housed at a local motel and provided food and clothing. She expressed a desire to return home to her family in Arkansas. As a direct result of the officer's contact and intervention, the woman was reunited with her aunt and grandmother and regained lawful employment in the food service industry. On November 4, 2015, the woman called the San Rafael Police Department to thank the involved officers for making her feel safe and said she was forever grateful for everyone involved in potentially saving her life. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Garrison for his professional performance and awards this Letter of Commendation. LETTER OF COMMENDATION Officer Maldonado During 2015, Officer Carlos Maldonado participated in several Human Trafficking operations with the Street Crimes Unit. In addition to his regular patrol duties, he personally initiated and investigated 11 cases of prostitution. He routinely demonstrated compassion toward the victims and offered them the support services in order to assist them out of their situation. In one particular case, Officer Maldonado interviewed a 16 -year old victim of Human Trafficking and developed significant rapport. He convinced her to cooperate with law enforcement and obtained background information regarding her trafficker. The victim identified her trafficker and provided detailed testimony regarding his pattern of criminal activity, which was critical to successful prosecution. The suspect ultimately pleaded guilty to two felony charges based upon the information Officer Maldonado developed. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Maldonado for his professional performance and awards this Letter of Commendation. UNIT CONDUCT CITATION Sergeant Carl Huber During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Sergeant Carl Huber, as a member of the Investigations Unit, responded to a storage facility in Hayward, CA to assist in locating a suspect who was being tracked via a stolen iPad. Detectives linked the suspect to a specific space and connected him and his vehicle to an earlier burglary in the series. The Investigations Unit continued tracking the suspect and stopped him in his vehicle, which contained stolen property from a burglary earlier the same morning. Detectives searched the storage unit, along with two other locations, and recovered stolen property which linked the suspect to burglaries in at least ten other Bay Area cities. Over the following weeks, the Investigations Unit identified additional accomplices and cleared eight related burglary cases in San Rafael. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Sergeant Huber's professional performance and awards this Unit Conduct Citation. UNIT CONDUCT CITATION Corporal James Bellamy During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Corporal James Bellamy, as a member of the Investigations Unit, responded to a storage facility in Hayward, CA to assist in locating a suspect who was being tracked via a stolen Wad. Detectives linked the suspect to a specific space and connected him and his vehicle to an earlier burglary in the series. The Investigations Unit continued tracking the suspect and stopped him in his vehicle, which contained stolen property from a burglary earlier the same morning. Detectives searched the storage unit, along with two other locations, and recovered stolen property which linked the suspect to burglaries in at least ten other Bay Area cities. Over the following weeks, the Investigations Unit identified additional accomplices and cleared eight related burglary cases in San Rafael. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Corporal Bellamy's professional performance and awards this Unit Conduct Citation. UNIT CONDUCT CITATION Corporal Ryan Cogbill During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Corporal Ryan Cogbill, as a member of the Investigations Unit, responded to a storage facility in Hayward, CA to assist in locating a suspect who was being tracked via a stolen iPad. Detectives linked the suspect to a specific space and connected him and his vehicle to an earlier burglary in the series. The Investigations Unit continued tracking the suspect and stopped him in his vehicle, which contained stolen property from a burglary earlier the same morning. Detectives searched the storage unit, along with two other locations, and recovered stolen property which linked the suspect to burglaries in at least ten other Bay Area cities. Over the following weeks, the Investigations Unit identified additional accomplices and cleared eight related burglary cases in San Rafael. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Corporal Cogbill's professional performance and awards this Unit Conduct Citation. UNIT CONDUCT CITATION Detective Ryan DeMarta During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Detective Ryan DeMarta, as a member of the Investigations Unit, responded to a storage facility in Hayward, CA to assist in locating a suspect who was being tracked via a stolen Wad. Detectives linked the suspect to a specific space and connected him and his vehicle to an earlier burglary in the series. The Investigations Unit continued tracking the suspect and stopped him in his vehicle, which contained stolen property from a burglary earlier the same morning. Detectives searched the storage unit, along with two other locations, and recovered stolen property which linked the suspect to burglaries in at least ten other Bay Area cities. Over the following weeks, the Investigations Unit identified additional accomplices and cleared eight related burglary cases in San Rafael. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Detective DeMarta's professional performance and awards this Unit Conduct Citation. UNIT CONDUCT CITATION Detective Michael Mathis During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Detective Michael Mathis, as a member of the Investigations Unit, responded to a storage facility in Hayward, CA to assist in locating a suspect who was being tracked via a stolen iPad. Detectives linked the suspect to a specific space and connected him and his vehicle to an earlier burglary in the series. The Investigations Unit continued tracking the suspect and stopped him in his vehicle, which contained stolen property from a burglary earlier the same morning. Detectives searched the storage unit, along with two other locations, and recovered stolen property which linked the suspect to burglaries in at least ten other Bay Area cities. Over the following weeks, the Investigations Unit identified additional accomplices and cleared eight related burglary cases in San Rafael. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Detective Mathis' professional performance and awards this Unit Conduct Citation. UNIT CONDUCT CITATION Detective Leslie O'Toole During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Detective Leslie O'Toole, as a member of the Investigations Unit, responded to a storage facility in Hayward, CA to assist in locating a suspect who was being tracked via a stolen Wad. Detectives linked the suspect to a specific space and connected him and his vehicle to an earlier burglary in the series. The Investigations Unit continued tracking the suspect and stopped him in his vehicle, which contained stolen property from a burglary earlier the same morning. Detectives searched the storage unit, along with two other locations, and recovered stolen property which linked the suspect to burglaries in at least ten other Bay Area cities. Over the following weeks, the Investigations Unit identified additional accomplices and cleared eight related burglary cases in San Rafael. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Detective O'Toole's professional performance and awards this Unit Conduct Citation. UNIT CONDUCT CITATION Detective Mark Wilkinson During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Detective Mark Wilkinson, as a member of the Investigations Unit, responded to a storage facility in Hayward, CA to assist in locating a suspect who was being tracked via a stolen iPad. Detectives linked the suspect to a specific space and connected him and his vehicle to an earlier burglary in the series. The Investigations Unit continued tracking the suspect and stopped him in his vehicle, which contained stolen property from a burglary earlier the same morning. Detectives searched the storage unit, along with two other locations, and recovered stolen property which linked the suspect to burglaries in at least ten other Bay Area cities. Over the following weeks, the Investigations Unit identified additional accomplices and cleared eight related burglary cases in San Rafael. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Detective Wilkinson's professional performance and awards this Unit Conduct Citation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Officer Tom Sabido During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 7, 2015, Officer Tom Sabido was patrolling the area during late night hours. He spotted a van in a driveway between two closed office buildings and saw the driver exit into an alleyway. Officer Sabido contacted the subject and identified him as being on searchable probation. He conducted a search of the subject's vehicle and identified potentially stolen property. Officer Sabido was unable to make an arrest based upon the limited evidence at the time, but fully documented the suspicious circumstances. This information would later prove critical to connecting the subject to the burglary series and a storage facility in Hayward, CA where he was keeping stolen property. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Sabido for his professional performance and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Officer Robert Henkle During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Officer Bob Henkle investigated a burglary at an office building in the area where a handgun and three iPads were taken. He worked with the victim to actively track one of the stolen devices to storage facility in Hayward, CA. Officer Henkle also reviewed security video footage from a neighboring business and identified a possible suspect and vehicle. He quickly alerted the Hayward Police Department and learned the suspect had just left the storage facility moments earlier. Officer Henkle began working with the SRPD Investigations Unit and provided frequent updates on the location of the stolen iPad to locate and arrest the suspect. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Henkle for his professional performance and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. LETTER OF COMMENDATION OFFICER BUFFY PAXSON During the summer of 2015, several businesses in a San Rafael industrial park were burglarized. San Rafael Police Department patrol officers and detectives increased surveillance operations and frequently shared information regarding the crime series. On September 22, 2015, Officer Buffy Paxson assisted with a burglary investigation at an office building in the area where a handgun and three Wads were taken. Officer Paxson processed the entire crime scene and identified several items of potential evidence, which she collected for DNA analysis. The crime scene was extensive and the recovered biological evidence was properly preserved for future comparison. Officer Paxson's experience as a Crime Scene Investigator was exemplified by her documentation of the scene. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Paxson for her professional performance and awards this Letter of Commendation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Officer Elisha Adams On November 17, 2015, at 0330 hours, Officer Elisha Adams responded to the 7-11 Store regarding a male subject who was acting suspiciously and breaking objects. Officer Adams arrived on scene and located the suspect fronting the store and holding an edged weapon. Officer Adams told the suspect to drop the weapon. The suspect disregarded the verbal commands and directed threatening statements toward Officer Adams while displaying the weapon in an aggressive manner. The suspect then rushed toward Officer Adams. Officer Adams pointed his handgun at the suspect, but backed away to a position of cover while waiting for a cover officer. Despite the demonstrated threat and circumstances potentially justifying lethal force, Officer Adams maintained his composure and a position of advantage while holding fire. As additional officers arrived on scene, the suspect took a fighting stance and resisted initial attempts to subdue him using a less -lethal shotgun. The situation was further complicated by a group of bystanders who interfered with the officers and placed themselves into harm's way. The suspect was ultimately subdued following the application of an EMDT device and was taken into custody without injury. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Officer Adams for his professional performance and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Corporal Justin Graham On November 17, 2015, at 0330 hours, Corporal Justin Graham responded to the 7-11 Store regarding a male subject who was acting suspiciously and breaking objects. Another officer had already arrived on scene and located the suspect fronting the store and holding an edged weapon. The suspect disregarded verbal commands and directed threatening statements toward the first officer while displaying the weapon in an aggressive manner. Corporal Justin Graham arrived and immediately recognized the severity of the situation. He used his patrol vehicle to nudge the suspect away from the other officer. Corporal Graham deployed a less -lethal shotgun and commanded the suspect to drop the weapon. The suspect ignored the commands and used the edged weapon to stab the patrol vehicle. The suspect then backed away, but took a fighting stance toward the officers. Corporal Graham deployed three bean-bag rounds at the suspect, which had limited effect. The suspect moved toward a group of bystanders who interjected themselves into harm's way while trying to film the incident with a cell phone. The suspect was ultimately subdued following the application of an EMDT device and was taken into custody without injury. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Corporal Graham for his professional performance and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. MERITORIOUS CONDUCT Corporal Kyle Hornstein On November 17, 2015, at 0330 hours, Corporal Kyle Hornstein responded to the 7-11 Store regarding a male subject who was acting suspiciously and breaking objects. Other officers had already arrived on scene and located the suspect fronting the store and holding an edged weapon. The suspect disregarded verbal commands and directed threatening statements. toward the officers while displaying the weapon in an aggressive manner. As Corporal Hornstein arrived on scene, the suspect took a fighting stance and resisted initial attempts by another officer to subdue him using a less -lethal shotgun. The situation was further complicated by a group of bystanders who interfered with the officers and placed themselves into harm's way. Corporal Hornstein quickly moved into a position between the suspect and the bystanders. He deployed his EMDT device and effectively neutralized the suspect. Corporal Hornstein aided in arresting the suspect while giving verbal commands to interfering bystanders. Once the suspect was secured, Corporal Hornstein was able to arrest one of the subjects who had interfered during the incident. The San Rafael Police Department gratefully acknowledges Corporal Hornstein for his professional performance and awards this Meritorious Conduct Citation. AGUILAR RAUL LIFE SAVING 2015 CPR Heart Attack PERRY JESSICA COMMENDATION 2015 CPR Assist COLLINS TJ LIFE SAVING 2015 CPR Drug Overdose HUBER CARL COMMENDATION 2015 Alcohol Grant EBERLE SCOTT COMMENDATION 2015 Alcohol Grant HEGLUND JAN MERITORIOUS 2015 Chaplaincy KUGA REBECCA MERITORIOUS 2015 Camp Chance EBERLE SCOTT MERITORIOUS 2015 Human Trafficking ADAMS ELISHA COMMENDATION 2015 Human Trafficking GARRISON MICHAEL COMMENDATION 2015 Human Trafficking MALDONADO CARLOS COMMENDATION 2015 Human Trafficking BELLAMY JAMES UNIT CONDUCT 2015 Burglary Series COGBILL RYAN UNIT CONDUCT 2015 Burglary Series DEMARTA RYAN UNIT CONDUCT 2015 Burglary Series HENKLE ROBERT MERITORIOUS 2015 Burglary Series HUBER CARL UNIT CONDUCT 2015 Burglary Series MATHIS MICHAEL UNIT CONDUCT 2015 Burglary Series O'TOOLE LESLIE UNIT CONDUCT 2015 Burglary Series PAXSON BUFFY COMMENDATION 2015 Burglary Series SABIDO TOM MERITORIOUS 2015 Burglary Series WILKINSON MARK UNIT CONDUCT 2015 Burglary Series ADAMS ELISHA MERITORIOUS 2015 Suspect Confrontation GRAHAM JUSTIN MERITORIOUS 2015 Suspect Confrontation HORNSTEIN KYLE MERITORIOUS 2015 Suspect Confrontation